Book Review: Your Silence Was Never Empty by Rabih Moussan

“You didn’t break down because you were weak.

You broke down because you were finally strong enough to stop lying to yourself.”

Rabih Moussan, Your Silence Was Never Empty

Review:

More than prose alone, this poetry collection presents as a stream of consciousness — the rawest, most relatable stream of thoughts you can possibly imagine. It can also be considered a form of self-help through the encouragement that builds from beginning to end. Paired with corresponding imagery, the author delivers on his promise: ‘It’s a book that sees you.’

Delving into themes of hurt, grief, loss, trauma, anger, silence, etc., the reading experience is immersive, especially if you find yourself relating to the sentiments. Choosing peace over conflict. Masking emotions so deeply that you lose the sense of your true self. The sense of responsibility to hold it together for the sake of everyone around. The quiet buildup of emotions until they explode. And so much more. I think most of us can relate to at least one of these.

Although I don’t sense that my life experience has been similar to the author’s, the emotions expressed were as if someone had put elements of my internal monologue onto paper. It’s incredible how closely human beings are connected. People, strangers, can live completely different lives and yet share some of the most vulnerable thoughts and feelings when given the opportunity. And while there were some parts in which I couldn’t relate at all, I’m sure this opens a door of connection for another.

If I have one quip about this book, it’s that I’m fairly sure that the images were AI-generated. As there is no disclaimer, I say this as an observation rather than a statement of fact. In this context, it doesn’t bother me too much because the image style added an element of unease that correlates with the mood of the text, and it didn’t take away or distract from my reading experience, but I do feel that if this is the case, there should be transparency. 

I am so glad to hear that Your Silence Was Never Empty is the first book in a trilogy. I will definitely be reading the next two books!

Thanks to Reedsy Discovery for providing a free digital ARC of the book!

Likes & Dislikes:

What I liked:

• Immersive and raw.
• Honest and vulnerable.

What I didn’t like:

• If I’m right about the AI, I do hope the author will choose to add some kind of disclaimer.

Afterthoughts:

Thoroughly looking forward to the next two installments!

Where to buy the book:

(coming soon)